Hepato-protective efficacy of ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa root and Cassia occidentalis leaves on potassium bromate-induced liver damage in Wistar rats

The growing reliance on industrially processed, packaged, and preserved food products has raised health concerns due to the potential toxicity of chemical additives such as potassium bromate (KBrO?). Identifying natural substances capable of mitigating such toxic effects is therefore essential. This study evaluated the hepatoprotective potential of ethanolic extracts of Curcuma longa roots and Cassia occidentalis leaves against KBrO?-induced hepatic injury in adult male Wistar rats. Thirty-six animals were randomly divided into six groups of six rats each. Group I served as the untreated control and received standard feed and water. Group II (toxic control) was administered KBrO? (50 mg/kg body weight). Groups III and IV received C. longa extract (500 and 1000 mg/kg, respectively) concurrently with KBrO?, while Groups V and VI received C. occidentalis extract (500 and 1000 mg/kg, respectively) with KBrO?. Treatment continued for 28 consecutive days, after which serum and liver samples were collected for biochemical and histopathological analyses. Relative liver weight showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in Groups III and IV, whereas the difference in Groups V and VI was not significant compared to the toxic control. Levels of total and direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the extract-treated groups compared to Group II. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) exhibited a slight but significant (p < 0.05) increase. Histological observations revealed that both extracts ameliorated KBrO?-induced hepatic damage, restored normal architecture, and improved hepatocyte morphology. These findings suggest that ethanolic extracts of C. longa and C. occidentalis possess strong hepatoprotective activity against potassium bromate–induced liver toxicity. Key words: Curcuma longa, Cassia occidentalis, potassium bromate, hepatoprotection, liver injury.